Josh Kline's 'Alternative Facts' exhibition at Various Small Fires Seoul explored via virtual viewing during lockdown.

During lockdown in the UK, a critic attended Josh Kline's exhibition 'Alternative Facts' at Various Small Fires in Seoul through a virtual platform. This exhibition was open from 11 April to 13 June 2020. Kline's 2020 artworks, primarily named 'Reality Television', showcased wall-mounted casts of flat-screen TVs adorned with the American flag, encrusted in epoxy resin. These monitors were perceived as stark and ominous, representing a brutal artistic statement. While exploring global exhibitions online, the critic felt a sense of vertigo, transitioning from Seoul to cities like New York, Antwerp, and Hong Kong. The context of US influence in South Korea enriched the interpretation of Kline’s work, which echoed themes of American Abstract Expressionism and its role in Cold War politics. The screens, viewed digitally, highlighted the contrast between representation and reality, with the flags underscoring the tangible nature of political power. The critic pondered the necessity of physical art in discussions of such themes versus the adequacy of online representations, acknowledging the persistent materiality of Kline's works even in digital formats.